Excerpted from the Steinsaltz Tanakh ( Hebrew-English ) Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Forthcoming from Koren Publishers Jerusalem Haftara for Rosh HaShana - I Samuel 1:1 2:10 Note to the reader: this sampler from the forthcoming Steinsaltz Bible contains the Name of God in print. While we invite you to download or print it, please do treat it with due care. Hanna is Remembered Hanna and Penina are the wives of Elkana. While Penina has successfully borne children, Hanna is barren. The narrative begins with a description of Hanna s misery with her situation. On her annual pilgrimage to the Tabernacle in Shilo, she prays intensely for a child and vows that should God grant her a son, he will be a nazirite and she will consecrate him to God for his entire life. In response to her prayer, God blesses her with a son, Samuel. After Samuel is weaned, he is brought to Shilo by his mother to devote his life to God. Hanna s anguished plea becomes a paradigm for prayer, and indeed many laws of prayer are derived from it ( Berakhot, chapter 5). Hanna thanks God in a beautiful and famous poem, in which she describes how one s destiny is in God s hands and, as happened to her, one s fate can change from one extreme to the other in an instant, clearly a very fitting theme for Rosh HaShana. In addition, we read this haftara on Rosh HaShana because, according to tradition, Hanna, like Sarah, whose story appears in the Torah reading of the day, were both remembered by God on 1 Rosh HaShana. English translation [ bold text ] and commentary [ plain text ] by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz. I Samuel 1:1 ו י ה י א ישׁ א ח ד מ ן ה ר מ ת י ם צוֹפ ים מ ה ר א פ ר י ם וּשׁ מ וֹ א ל ק נ ה בּ ן י ר ח ם בּ ן א ל יה וּא בּ ן תּ חוּ ב ן צ וּף א פ ר ת י: There was a certain man from Ramathaim Tzofim, from Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkana, son of Yeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Tzuf, an Efraimite. 1 Ran on Megillah, cited by Beit Yosef, Oraḥ Ḥayyim, 584. Page 1
Commentary on I Samuel 1:1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim, b1 from Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkana, son of Yeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Tzuf, an Efraimite. 2 According to tradition, Elkana was a Levite, who lived in the hills of Ephraim. The title 3 Efraimite was a general term for one of a high social status. Since Ephraim was considered a superior tribe, certainly in their own eyes and perhaps by others as well, the label 4 Efraimite denoted an individual from a good family. Background for I Samuel 1:1 b1 Ramathaim Tzofim ת י ם צוֹפ ים :ר מ The main theories with regard to the location of this place are Rantis, on the slopes of the hill-country of Ephraim, about two km west of Beit Aryeh; Ramah, north of Jerusalem; and Rameh, in northern Samaria, near Sanur. I Samuel 1:2 ו לוֹ שׁ תּ י נ שׁ ים שׁ ם אַח ת ח נּ ה ו שׁ ם ה שּׁ נ ית פּ נ נּ ה ו י ה י ל פ נ נּ ה י ל ד ים וּל ח נּ ה א ין י ל ד ים: He had two wives, the name of the first, Hanna, and the name of the second, Penina. Penina had children, but Hanna had no children. Commentary on I Samuel 1:2 He had two wives, the name of the first, Hanna, and the name of the second, Penina. Since not many men at that time married two women, there must have been a special 5 reason for Elkana to have done so. Penina had children, but Hanna had no children. Hanna was Elkana s first wife. When it became apparent that she was not bearing children, Elkana married a second woman for that purpose. Hence the great difference between his 6 relationships with his two wives. 2 Rashi, based on I Chronicles 6:12. 3 Rashi, based on Vayikra Rabba 2:3 ; Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45. 4 See also Midrash Shmuel ; Judges 12:5 ; commentary on Judges 8:1. 5 Malbim; Pesikta Rabbati 44 ; see also Rabbi Reuven Margolis, Olelot 6. 6 See Yalkut Shimoni. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 2
I Samuel 1:3 ו ע ל ה ה א ישׁ ה ה וּא מ ע ירוֹ מ יּ מ ים י מ ימ ה ל ה שׁ תּ ח ו ת ו ל ז בּ ח ל יהו ה צ ב א וֹת בּ שׁ ל ה ו שׁ ם שׁ נ י ב נ י ע ל י ח פ נ י וּפ נ ח ס כּ ה נ ים ל יהו ה: This man ascended from his city from year to year to prostrate himself and to present offerings to the Lord of hosts in Shilo. There, the two sons of Eli, Hofni and Pinhas, were priests to the Lord. Commentary on I Samuel 1:3 7 This man ascended from his city from year to year, or from one festival to another, to prostrate himself and to present offerings to the Lord of hosts in the Temple, which was currently situated in Shilo. Apparently, Shilo was not a pilgrimage site for all of Israel. Rather, it was frequented mainly by local residents who required the services of the 8 Temple. There, the two sons of Eli, the very elderly High Priest, Hofni and Pinhas, were priests to the Lord. In practice, they were in charge of the Temple. I Samuel 1:4 ו י ה י ה יּ וֹם ו יּ ז בּ ח א ל ק נ ה ו נ ת ן ל פ נ נּ ה א שׁ תּ וֹ וּ ל כ ל בּ נ יה וּב נוֹת יה מ נ וֹת: It was on the day, Elkana presented an offering, and he gave to Penina his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions. Commentary on I Samuel 1:4 It was on the day, on a certain day, Elkana presented an offering [ vayyizbaḥ]; he brought peace offerings, which are generally offered on festivals and other times of joy. A portion of these offerings was burnt on the altar, another part was given to the priests, while the rest was eaten by the owners. And he, Elkana, in accordance with his practice, gave to Penina his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions. The term vayyizbaḥ derives from the root zayin-bet-ḥet, which usually appears in the context of a 9 celebratory public or private meal. I Samuel 1:5 וּל ח נּ ה י תּ ן מ נ ה אַח ת אַפּ י ם כּ י א ת ח נּ ה אָה ב ו יהו ה ס ג ר ר ח מ הּ: To Hanna he gave a double portion, as he loved Hanna, but the Lord had closed her womb. 7 See Radak; Rav Yeshaya of Trani; Ralbag. 8 See introduction to Judges; commentary on Judges 21:19 ; see also Tanna DeVei Eliyahu Rabba 8. 9 See Radak; I Samuel 20:6 ; introduction to Leviticus chapter 6. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 3
Commentary on I Samuel 1:5 To Hanna he gave a double portion, or a large, significant portion. Some explain 11 that he gave her some of the choicest portion that was before him. As he loved Hanna, and he wished to express publicly his preference for her over his other wife, but the Lord had closed her womb, and she had not borne children. Consequently, unlike Penina, who received several portions for herself and her children, Hanna 12 received only one portion. It was not uncommon for there to be some sort of rivalry between two women who were married to the same man. 10 I Samuel 1:6 ו כ ע ס תּ ה צ ר ת הּ גּ ם כּ ע ס בּ ע ב וּר ה רּ ע מ הּ כּ י ס ג ר י הו ה בּ ע ד ר ח מ הּ: Her rival provoked her again and again, to upset her, because the Lord closed her womb. Commentary on I Samuel 1:6 Her rival, the other woman in the house, Penina, provoked her again and again, d1 to 13 upset her, because the Lord had closed her womb. Discussion for I Samuel 1:6 d1 Her rival provoked her again and again תּ ה צ ר ת הּ גּ ם כּ ע ס :ו כ ע ס This story is reminiscent of the relationship of Jacob with his wives, Rachel and Leah. Like the patriarch, Elkana preferred one of his wives to the other, and he also clearly displayed his love for the woman who had not given him children. Furthermore, in both cases the shunned wife emphasized her role of motherhood as her advantage over her co-wife (see Genesis 29:30 32; Ralbag; see also Genesis 16:4). I Samuel 1:7 ו כ ן י ע שׂ ה שׁ נ ה ב שׁ נ ה מ דּ י ע ל ת הּ בּ ב ית י הו ה כּ ן תּ כ ע ס נּ ה ו תּ ב כּ ה ו ל א ת אכ ל: So he would do year after year, when she ascended to the house of the Lord, so she would provoke her, and she would weep, and she would not eat. 10 See Targum Yonatan ; Rashi; Radak; see also Ralbag on verse 7. 11 See Rashbam on Exodus 2:6, 25:30. 12 Rashbam on Exodus 2:6. 13 See Rashi; Rav Yeshaya of Trani; Metzudat David. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 4
Commentary on I Samuel 1:7 So he, Elkana, would do year after year, keeping up his practice of giving Hanna a choice portion, when she ascended to the house of the Lord, so she, her co-wife, Penina, would provoke her, and she, Hanna, would weep, and she would not eat. She felt humiliated and had no appetite. Even if Penina did not mock her in a callous manner, in Hanna s sensitive state any teasing remark, such as: Why don t you give some of your large portion to your 14 child, would have inevitably led to tears. I Samuel 1:8 ו יּ אמ ר ל הּ א ל ק נ ה א ישׁ הּ ח נּ ה ל מ ה ת ב כּ י ו ל מ ה ל א ת אכ ל י ו ל מ ה י ר ע ל ב ב ך ה ל וֹא אָ נ כ י ט וֹב ל ך מ ע שׂ ר ה בּ נ ים: Elkana her husband said to her: Hanna, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart grieving? Am I not better to you than ten sons? Commentary on I Samuel 1:8 Elkana her husband said to her: Hanna, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart grieving? I love you and am devoted to you. Am not I better to you than ten sons? I Samuel 1:9 ו תּ ק ם ח נּ ה אַח ר י אָכ ל ה ב שׁ ל ה ו אַח ר י שׁ ת ה ו ע ל י ה כּ ה ן י שׁ ב ע ל ה כּ סּ א ע ל מ זוּז ת ה יכ ל י הו ה: Hanna rose up after eating in Shilo, and after drinking, and Eli the priest sat on the chair near the doorpost of the Sanctuary of the Lord; Commentary on I Samuel 1:9 Hanna rose up after eating in Shilo, and after drinking, when the tense family meal had ended. And Eli the priest sat on the chair near the doorpost of the gate of the Sanctuary of the Lord, not in the Temple itself. Perhaps Hanna greeted him, but in any case she did not pay much attention to him. I Samuel 1:10 ו ה יא מ ר ת נ פ שׁ ו תּ ת פּ לּ ל ע ל י הו ה וּב כ ה ת ב כּ ה: she was embittered, and she prayed to the Lord, and she wept. 14 See Midrash Shmuel 8. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 5
Commentary on I Samuel 1:10 Hanna went inside as she was embittered, d1 hurt, and forlorn, and she prayed to the Lord, and she wept. Discussion for I Samuel 1:10 d1 She was embittered יא מ ר ת נ פ שׁ :ו ה It is possible that had Penina not irritated her to such an extent, Hanna would not have been so distraught. In every society that promotes the rearing of children, a barren woman is considered deficient, and any insensitive comments are liable to upset her. With that said, it appears that Hanna s bitterness was not due solely to her social status; rather, she came to feel that she was personally flawed. The Sages present Hanna s prayer in the following terms: Master of the Universe, of all the organs You created in a woman, You have not fashioned one in vain. Every organ fulfills its purpose. If so, these breasts that You placed upon my heart, to what purpose did You place them? Was it not in order to nurse with them? Grant me a son and I will nurse with them. You have created within me the female capacity to give birth, and yet You do not allow me to actualize my essence. In this context, Elkana s comment can be understood as a message of encouragement which he would repeat on a yearly basis. Alternatively, it is possible that in this specific instance her husband felt the need to stress her special place in his heart more than on other occasions, and perhaps he even grew angry with her. After all, Penina was his wife (see Berakhot 31b; Midrash Shmuel 8; Genesis 30:21) as well, and her children were also his. The need to impose order and keep matters calm at home must have been a great burden for him. Consequently, Elkana stressed to Hanna that since she was loved, she should not be so sensitive. It should be noted that even if his intent was to cheer her up, his statement quite possibly had the very opposite effect. Perhaps at first he would say to her something like: God willing, you will yet bear a child; if not now, then maybe next year. However, in the comment cited here he had accepted her situation as an irreversible fact, implying to Hanna: You will be my beloved wife, while she will be the mother of my children. You should be happy with your lot, as it is perhaps the more pleasant and respectable of the two options. Yet Hanna refused to accept her fate, and therefore she arose in bitterness and prayed to God. (see Malbim on verse 8) Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 6
I Samuel 1:11 ו תּ דּ ר נ ד ר ו תּ אמ ר י הו ה צ ב א וֹת א ם ר א ה ת ר א ה בּ ע נ י א מ ת ך וּז כ ר תּ נ י ו ל א ת שׁ כּ ח א ת א מ ת ך ו נ ת תּ ה ל א מ ת ך ז ר ע א נ שׁ ים וּנ ת תּ יו ל יהו ה כּ ל י מ י ח יּ יו וּמוֹר ה ל א י ע ל ה ע ל ר אשׁ וֹ: She took a vow, and said: Lord of hosts, if You will see the suffering of Your maidservant, and you will remember me, and will not forget Your maidservant, and You will give Your maidservant substantial offspring, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor will not come upon his head. Commentary on I Samuel 1:11 She took a vow, and said: Lord of hosts, d1 if You will see the suffering of Your maidservant, and you will remember me, and will not forget Your maidservant, and You will give Your maidservant substantial offspring, an important, strong child, then I will give him, consecrate him, to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor will not come upon his head. Hanna vowed that the son born to her would be a 15 Nazirite, whose hairs may not be shaved. The mention of a strong child is perhaps an indication that Hanna had previously miscarried, which is why she now specified a 16 healthy baby. Discussion for I Samuel 1:11 d1 Lord of hosts צ ב אוֹת :ה This is the first mention of this particular appellation of God in the entire Bible. The Sages explain that by using this name Hanna meant to say: Lord, You have all the hosts in the world; is it difficult for You to grant me one son? (see Berakhot 31b) I Samuel 1:12 ו ה י ה כּ י ה ר בּ ת ה ל ה ת פּ לּ ל ל פ נ י י הו ה ו ע ל י שׁ מ ר א ת פּ יה : It was as she prayed extensively before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. Commentary on I Samuel 1:12 It was as she prayed extensively before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Apparently, there were not many people in the vicinity, and Eli, who was sitting nearby, noticed her. 15 See Radak; Mishna Nazir 9:5. 16 Rav Yeshaya of Trani; see Sanhedrin 84b. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 7
I Samuel 1:13 ו ח נּ ה ה יא מ ד בּ ר ת ע ל ל בּ הּ ר ק שׂ פ ת יה נּ ע וֹת ו קוֹל הּ ל א י שּׁ מ ע ו יּ ח שׁ ב ה ע ל י ל שׁ כּ ר ה: Hanna, she was speaking in her heart; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard; Eli thought she was drunk. Commentary on I Samuel 1:13 Hanna, she was speaking quietly in her heart, as she did not want anyone to hear her expressing her innermost feelings; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard; Eli therefore thought she was drunk, as drunkards sometimes talk to themselves, or think that they are speaking when they are actually not saying anything. When Eli saw a woman moving her lips as though she was talking, but 17 emitting no sound, he assumed that she was intoxicated. I Samuel 1:14 ו יּ אמ ר א ל יה ע ל י ע ד מ ת י תּ שׁ תּ כּ ר ין ה ס יר י א ת י ינ ך מ ע ל י ך : Eli said to her: How long will you be drunk? Remove your wine from you. Commentary on I Samuel 1:14 Eli said to her: How long will you be drunk and act in an intoxicated manner? If you are already drunk, remove the influence of your wine from you. It is unfitting to be 18 drunk anywhere, certainly not in the house of God. I Samuel 1:15 ו תּ ע ן ח נּ ה ו תּ אמ ר ל א א ד נ י א שּׁ ה ק שׁ ת ר וּח אָנ כ י ו י י ן ו שׁ כ ר ל א שׁ ת ית י ו א שׁ פּ ך א ת נ פ שׁ י ל פ נ י י הו ה: Hanna answered and said: No, my lord, I am an embittered woman; wine and intoxicating drink I did not drink, and I poured out my soul before the Lord. Commentary on I Samuel 1:15 Hanna answered and said: No, my lord, you are mistaken, I am an embittered woman; wine and intoxicating drink I did not drink at all, and instead I poured out my soul before the Lord. Since I was talking to God, there was no need for me to raise my voice. 17 Metzudat David. 18 See Radak; Malbim. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 8
I Samuel 1:16 אַל תּ תּ ן א ת א מ ת ך ל פ נ י בּ ת בּ ל יּ ע ל כּ י מ ר ב שׂ יח י ו כ ע ס י דּ בּ ר תּ י ע ד ה נּ ה: Do not deem your maidservant to be like a wicked woman, as it is due to the extent of my grievance and my anger I have spoken until now. Commentary on I Samuel 1:16 Do not deem your maidservant to be like a wicked woman. Do not think of me as an immoral woman who came drunk to the Temple, as it is due to the extent of my grievance, the bitterness of my soul, and my anger I have spoken at great length 19 until now. Apparently, it was unusual at the time to recite such a long prayer. I Samuel 1:17 ו יּ ע ן ע ל י ו יּ אמ ר ל כ י ל שׁ ל וֹם ו אל ה י י שׂ ר א ל י תּ ן א ת שׁ ל ת ך א שׁ ר שׁ אַ ל תּ מ ע מּ וֹ: Eli answered and said: Go in peace. The God of Israel will grant your request that you asked of Him. Commentary on I Samuel 1:17 When Eli heard her answer in an entirely sober manner, he regretted his accusation. Eli answered and said: Go in peace. Eli immediately added words of encouragement for the future: The God of Israel will grant your request that you asked of Him. I do not know what you requested, but I bless you that God should give you your wish. With regard to this verse, the Gemara states that Rabbi Elazar said: From here the halakha is derived that one who suspects another of something that he has not done, he must 20 appease him. Moreover, the one who suspected him must bless him. I Samuel 1:18 ו תּ אמ ר תּ מ צ א שׁ פ ח ת ך ח ן בּ ע ינ יך ו תּ ל ך ה א שּׁ ה ל ד ר כּ הּ ו תּ אכ ל וּפ נ יה ל א ה יוּ ל הּ ע וֹד: She said: May your maidservant find favor in your eyes. The woman went on her way, and she ate, and her face was no longer as it was. 19 See Ralbag; Metzudat David. 20 Berakhot 31b Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 9
Commentary on I Samuel 1:18 She said: May your maidservant find favor in your eyes. May your words come to pass. This was the polite response of one who had received a blessing or a compliment: I 21 sincerely thank you for treating me favorably. The woman went on her way, and she ate as usual, and her face was no longer downcast as it was. The feelings of sorrow, anger, and heartbreak that had accompanied her to Shilo now dissipated, perhaps due to her earnest prayer and the special blessing she had received from the High Priest. Now she had renewed confidence and hope. The last phrase in the verse literally means and she 22 had no more face, as face in the Bible can refer to anger. I Samuel 1:19 ו יּ שׁ כּ מוּ ב בּ ק ר ו יּ שׁ תּ ח ווּ ל פ נ י י הו ה ו יּ שׁ בוּ ו יּ ב אוּ א ל בּ ית ם ה ר מ ת ה ו יּ ד ע א ל ק נ ה א ת ח נּ ה א שׁ תּ וֹ ו יּ ז כּ ר ה י הו ה: They arose early in the morning, and they prostrated themselves before the Lord, and they returned, and they came to their house to Ramah. Elkana was intimate with Hanna his wife; and the Lord remembered her. Commentary on I Samuel 1:19 They, the whole family, arose early in the morning, and they prostrated themselves 23 before the Lord upon their departure from the Temple, and they returned, and they came to their house to Ramah. Elkana was intimate with Hanna his wife; and on this occasion the Lord remembered her. I Samuel 1:20 ו י ה י ל ת ק פ וֹת ה יּ מ ים ו תּ ה ר ח נּ ה ו תּ ל ד בּ ן ו תּ ק ר א א ת שׁ מוֹ שׁ מוּא ל כּ י מ י הו ה שׁ א ל תּ יו: It was with the passage of time, Hanna conceived and she bore a son; she called his name Samuel, as: I requested him [ she iltiv ] from the Lord. Commentary on I Samuel 1:20 It was with the passage of time; another year passed, and by that time Hanna had conceived, and she bore a son; she called his name Samuel, as she explained: I requested him [ she iltiv ] from the Lord. d1 21 See Metzudat David; Malbim; Genesis 33:15, 47:25; II Samuel 15:4; Ruth 2:13. 22 See Guide of the Perplexed 1:37. 23 See Mishna Tamid, chapter 6. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 10
Discussion for I Samuel 1:20 d1 She called his name Samuel, as I requested him [she iltiv] from the Lord ק ר א א ת שׁ מוֹ שׁ מוּא ל כּ י מ ה שׁ א ל תּ יו :ו תּ Hanna did not invent the name Samuel. Furthermore, her justification is problematic, as the closest name to she iltiv is Saul rather than Samuel. It appears that the original meaning of Samuel (see Numbers 34:20) was name of God, and this was her way of saying that he would be called by the name of God, that is, he was consecrated and belonged to God ( Shemo E l) (see Abravanel). I Samuel 1:21 ו יּ ע ל ה א ישׁ א ל ק נ ה ו כ ל בּ ית וֹ ל ז בּ ח ל יהו ה א ת ז ב ח ה יּ מ ים ו א ת נ ד ר וֹ: The man Elkana and his entire household ascended to bring an offer to the Lord, the annual offering, and his vow. Commentary on I Samuel 1:21 The man Elkana and his entire household, his family, ascended to bring an offer to the Lord, the annual offering, or the appropriate offerings for those dates, perhaps the festival offerings, and the offerings for his vow, which he had pledged to bring over 24 the course of the year. I Samuel 1:22 ו ח נּ ה ל א ע ל ת ה כּ י אָמ ר ה ל א ישׁ הּ ע ד י גּ מ ל ה נּ ע ר ו ה ב א ת יו ו נ ר אָה א ת פּ נ י י הו ה ו י שׁ ב שׁ ם ע ד עוֹל ם: Hanna did not ascend, as she said to her husband: When the child will be weaned, I will bring him, and he will appear before the Lord, and there he will reside forever. Commentary on I Samuel 1:22 Hanna did not ascend with her son; as she said to her husband: I will wait, and when the child will be weaned from his mother s milk and he can eat any food, I will bring him to the Temple, and he will appear before the Lord, and there he will reside forever. In the meantime, I will leave him at home and enjoy him. When he grows a 25 little, I will bring him to Shilo and give him to God. 24 See Targum Yonatan ; Rashi; see also Numbers 29:39. 25 See Radak; Metzudat David. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 11
I Samuel 1:23 ו יּ אמ ר ל הּ א ל ק נ ה א ישׁ הּ ע שׂ י ה טּ וֹב בּ ע ינ י ך שׁ ב י ע ד גּ מ ל ך א ת וֹ אַ ך י ק ם י הו ה א ת דּ ב ר וֹ ו תּ שׁ ב ה א שּׁ ה ו תּ ינ ק א ת בּ נ הּ ע ד גּ מ ל הּ א ת וֹ: Elkana her husband said to her: Do that which is good in your eyes, remain until you wean him; but may the Lord fulfill His word. The woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. Commentary on I Samuel 1:23 Elkana her husband said to her: Do that which is good in your eyes, remain here with the boy until you wean him; but may the Lord fulfill His word, that the child 26 should mature and thrive. The woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. I Samuel 1:24 ו תּ ע ל הוּ ע מּ הּ כּ א שׁ ר גּ מ ל תּוּ בּ פ ר ים שׁ ל שׁ ה ו א יפ ה אַח ת ק מ ח ו נ ב ל י י ן ו תּ ב א הוּ ב ית י הו ה שׁ ל וֹ ו ה נּ ע ר נ ע ר: When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of flour, and a wineskin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Shilo, and the child was young. Commentary on I Samuel 1:24 When she had weaned him, marking the occasion in a celebratory fashion, upon the 28 age of two or three, or perhaps a little older, she took him up with her to the Temple, with three bulls, and one ephah of flour, an ancient measure of volume, roughly equivalent to 22 gm, perhaps slightly more, and a wineskin, possibly an 29 earthenware container, of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Shilo, and the child was young. He would act in the immature manner of a young 30 child. Perhaps he was mischievous or precocious; in any case, his presence was felt in 31 the Temple, which was a place mainly for adults. 27 I Samuel 1:25 ו יּ שׁ ח ט וּ א ת ה פּ ר ו יּ ב יאוּ א ת ה נּ ע ר א ל ע ל י: They slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 See Ralbag. 27 See Genesis 21:8 and Rashbam ad loc. 28 See Berakhot 31 b; Jerusalem Talmud, Berakhot 4:1 ; Ralbag on I Samuel 7:2. 29 See Isaiah 30:14 ; Jeremiah 13:12 ; Lamentations 4:2. 30 See Berakhot 31 b. 31 See Radak; Malbim. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 12
Commentary on I Samuel 1:25 They slaughtered the bull as an offering, and they brought the child to Eli the priest. I Samuel 1:26 ו תּ אמ ר בּ י א ד נ י ח י נ פ שׁ ך א ד נ י א נ י ה א שּׁ ה ה נּ צּ ב ת ע מּ כ ה בּ ז ה ל ה ת פּ לּ ל א ל י הו ה: She said: Please, my lord, by your soul, my lord, I am the woman who stood with you here, praying to the Lord. Commentary on I Samuel 1:26 She, Hanna, said to Eli: Please, my lord, by your soul, my lord, I am the same woman who stood with you here, praying to the Lord. Hanna had not previously told Eli what she prayed for; now she revealed it to him: I Samuel 1:27 א ל ה נּ ע ר ה זּ ה ה ת פּ לּ ל תּ י ו יּ תּ ן י הו ה ל י א ת שׁ א ל ת י א שׁ ר שׁ אַ ל תּ י מ ע מּ וֹ: For this child I prayed; and the Lord granted me my request that I asked of Him. Commentary on I Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord granted me my request that I asked of Him. I Samuel 1:28 ו ג ם אָנ כ י ה שׁ א ל תּ הוּ ל יהו ה כּ ל ה יּ מ ים א שׁ ר ה י ה ה וּא שׁ א וּל ל יהו ה ו יּ שׁ תּ חוּ שׁ ם ל יהו ה: I too have given him to the Lord, all the days that he will be, he is given to the Lord. They prostrated themselves there before the Lord. Commentary on I Samuel 1:28 Since God has fulfilled my request, I too have given him to the Lord, as my part of the petition; all the days that he will be, he is given and handed over to the Lord. He, or all those present, prostrated himself there before the Lord. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 13
I Samuel 2:1 ו תּ ת פּ לּ ל ח נּ ה ו תּ אמ ר ע ל ץ ל בּ י בּ יהו ה ר מ ה ק ר נ י בּ יהו ה ר ח ב פּ י ע ל א וֹי ב י כּ י שׂ מ ח תּ י בּ ישׁוּע ת ך : Hanna prayed, and said: My heart exults in the Lord, my glory is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is opened wide against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. Commentary on I Samuel 2:1 Hanna prayed, and said: My heart exults in the Lord, my glory is exalted, my strength has increased and I have risen to a position of greatness, in, by the assistance 32 of the Lord. My mouth is opened wide against my enemies; I can say what I wish to them and they have no response; because I rejoice in the revelation of Your salvation. I believed in You even beforehand, but now I can exult at seeing the open display of Your deliverance. I Samuel 2:2 א ין ק ד וֹשׁ כּ יהו ה כּ י א ין בּ ל תּ ך ו א ין צ וּר כּ אל ה ינוּ: There is none as holy as the Lord, as there is none besides You; and there is no rock like our God. Commentary on I Samuel 2:2 There is none as holy as the Lord, as there is none who responds and rescues besides You; and there is no powerful rock like our God. Despite God s transcendence, He 33 does not remain distant from the world, but is constantly active in human affairs. I Samuel 2:3 אַל תּ ר בּ וּ ת ד בּ רוּ גּ ב ה ה ג ב ה ה י צ א ע ת ק מ פּ יכ ם כּ י א ל דּ עוֹת י הו ה *ולא **ו ל וֹ נ ת כּ נ וּ ע ל ל וֹת: Do not speak with extreme haughtiness, letting arrogance emerge from your mouth, as the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him exploits are assessed. Commentary on I Samuel 2:3 Hanna addressed her enemies: Do not exceedingly speak with extreme haughtiness, pretentious and conceited statements, as though you know and understand everything. 34 35 Let not words of arrogance, or false statements, emerge from your mouth, as in truth the Lord is a God of knowledge, He possesses all knowledge; and only by Him 36 the exploits of the world are assessed and judged. 32 See Radak. 33 See Abravanel. 34 Radak; Rav Yosef Kara. 35 See Targum Yonatan ; Rashi. 36 See Radak. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 14
I Samuel 2:4 ק שׁ ת גּ בּ ר ים ח תּ ים ו נ כ שׁ ל ים אָ ז רוּ ח י ל: The bow of the mighty is broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Commentary on I Samuel 2:4 On the one hand, the bow of the mighty men those who stumbled are girded with strength. 37 38 is broken, and on the other hand, I Samuel 2:5 שׂ ב ע ים בּ לּ ח ם נ שׂ כּ רוּ וּר ע ב ים ח ד לּוּ ע ד ע ק ר ה י ל ד ה שׁ ב ע ה ו ר בּ ת בּ נ ים א מ ל ל ה: The sated were hired for bread, and the hungry have ceased; while the barren has borne seven, and the one with many children is ill-fated. Commentary on I Samuel 2:5 The sated were hired for bread. They do not even receive a wage for their labor, but merely bread to eat; and in contrast, the hungry have ceased to want food; to the extent that while [ ad ] the barren has borne seven, and the one with many children is ill-fated. d1 39 The word ad could also mean behold. Discussion for I Samuel 2:5 d1 And the one with many children is ill-fated ת בּ נ ים א מ ל ל ה :ו ר בּ Some infer from this phrase that some of Penina s children died, perhaps as a punishment for her harassment of Hanna. In any case, Hanna described a new world, in which those who were previously successful and considered mighty had (see Rashi; Radak; Midrash Shmuel 5:10) fallen by the wayside, whereas she and her ilk stood firm and happy, thanks to God s salvation. Her happiness at finally bringing a child into the world is reminiscent of Rachel s reaction when she too was blessed with a son after many barren years: God has removed my disgrace (Genesis 30:23). 37 Rav Yeshaya of Trani. 38 See Rashi. 39 See Yov 1:18. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 15
I Samuel 2:6 י הו ה מ מ ית וּמ ח יּ ה מוֹר יד שׁ א וֹל ו יּ ע ל: The Lord kills, and vivifies; He lowers to the grave and raises. Commentary on I Samuel 2:6 The Lord kills, and vivifies; He lowers to the grave and He also raises people up from there. I Samuel 2:7 י הו ה מוֹר ישׁ וּמ ע שׁ יר מ שׁ פּ יל אַף מ רוֹמ ם: The Lord impoverishes, and makes rich; He humbles, He also elevates. Commentary on I Samuel 2:7 The Lord impoverishes, and also makes rich; He humbles, and yet He also elevates. I Samuel 2:8 מ ק ים מ ע פ ר דּ ל מ אַשׁ פּ ת י ר ים א ב י וֹן ל הוֹשׁ יב ע ם נ ד יב ים ו כ סּ א כ ב וֹד י נ ח ל ם כּ י ל יהו ה מ צ ק י א ר ץ ו יּ שׁ ת ע ל יה ם תּ ב ל: He raises the impoverished from the dust, He elevates the indigent from the refuse heaps, to seat them with princes, and bequeath them a throne of glory, as the pillars of the earth are the Lord s, and He established the world upon them. Commentary on I Samuel 2:8 He raises the impoverished from the dust, He elevates the indigent, the destitute who have nowhere to go, from the refuse heaps, places of garbage and scraps, to seat them, the poor and needy, with princes, dignitaries, and bequeath them a throne of glory, as the pillars, the foundations, of the earth are the Lord s, and He established the world upon them. The foundations of the world are in the hands of God, who can do with them as He wishes. He can raise up the world or bring it down, and render it a comfortable place for certain people and less so for others. I Samuel 2:9 ר ג ל י *חסידו **ח ס יד יו י שׁ מ ר וּר שׁ ע ים בּ ח שׁ ך י דּ מּוּ כּ י ל א ב כ ח י ג בּ ר א ישׁ: He protects the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness, as not through strength does man prevail. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 16
Commentary on I Samuel 2:9 He protects the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness, due to 40 their evil ways; alternatively, they will disappear and be lost in darkness; as not through strength does man prevail, but rather, the world is ruled by God s kindness, goodwill, 41 and His special providence over His pious ones. I Samuel 2:10 י הו ה י ח תּוּ *מריבו **מ ר יב יו *עלו **ע ל יו בּ שּׁ מ י ם י ר ע ם י הו ה י ד ין אַפ ס י אָ ר ץ ו י תּ ן ע ז ל מ ל כּ וֹ ו י ר ם ק ר ן מ שׁ יח וֹ: The Lord, His challengers will be broken, against him He will thunder in the heavens; the Lord will judge to the ends of the earth, and He will give strength to His king, and he will exalt the glory of His anointed. Commentary on I Samuel 2:10 The Lord, His challengers, those who rise up against Him, will be broken; against him, each of them, He will thunder in the heavens and strike them; the Lord will judge to the ends of the earth. Hanna concludes her prayer with a prophetic hope: And He will give strength to His king, and he will exalt the glory of His anointed. Perhaps my son will prepare the world for the forthcoming monarchy of Israel. Hanna is considered one of the 42 seven prophetesses. 40 See Radak. 41 See Guide of the Perplexed 3:18, 51. 42 See Radak; Megilla 14 a; see also Targum Yonatan and Ralbag from verse 1 onward. Commentary on the Bible: I Samuel Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Page 17